"77" "B.A."Hard Hat Award (Game #16, vs. Lions)
The Stiller Special Teams is the winner of the weekly Hard Hat Award, given to the Stiller player/unit who best embodies the iron-tough, hard-as-steel attitude of the steel workers inside the blast furnace of a still mill.
A unit that has traditionally been the Achilles heel of the Stillers, the Special Teams stepped up big time and was instrumental in the 35-21 victory over the Lions. Their physical play helped secure a playoff berth while the offensive and defensive units were struggling. Bill Cowher commented on the performance of the STs during his post game interview: "We didn't play well enough offensively and defensively, but I can't say enough about our special teams.�
On the Stiller�s first possession, Antwaan Randle El returned a Harris punt 81 yards for a touchdown. The blocking was legit and ARE ran North to South with authority.
Late in the first quarter and down by a touchdown Ricardo Colclough busted a 63 yard kick off return to the Detroit 33 yard line that would set up a Jerome Bettis TD to tie the game.
Towards the end of the second half with Gardocki punting, Chidi Iwuoma forced Drummond to fumble and the ball was recovered by Keisel. This excellent play set up another Bus touchdown allowing the Stillers to take a 21-14 lead at halftime.
Solid tackling and hustle by Keisel and Clint Kriewaldt contributed significantly to the performance of the Special Teams.
Kudos to the Special Teams for winning the weekly Hard Hat Award. Wear the Hard Hat proudly, fellas and keep up this intensity during the playoffs!
Past 2005 Hard Hat Winners:
Week 1, vs. Tenn: Willie Parker
Week 2, @ Hou: Troy Polamalu
Week 3, vs. NE: Clark Haggans
Week 4, @ SD: Troy Polamalu
Week 5, vs. Jax: Heath Miller and Ike Taylor
Week 6, @ Cinci: Hines Ward and Ike Taylor
Week 7, vs. Balt.: Andre Frazier
Week 8, @ GB: Duce Staley
Week 9, vs. Clev: Hines Ward and Charlie Batch
Week 10, @ Balt: Aaron Smith
Week 11, @ Indy: No one
Week 12, vs. Cinci: Ben Roethlisberger
Week 13, vs. Chicago: Jerome Bettis and Alan Faneca
Week 14, @ Minn: The entire defense
Week 15, @ Clev: Brett Keisel and James Harrison
(Note: Stillers.com will pay tribute to Steve Courson this season by placing "77" in the Hard Hat Award article each week. Courson, as most of you certainly recall, was the ultimate Hard Hat kind of player. Tough, dependable, and versatile. Stillers.com will also pay tribute to Army Sergeant First Class Brent Adams, a longtime Stillers fan and Pittsburgh native who paid the ultimate sacrifice for his country while serving on point for the nation in Iraq. SFC Adams died on duty in Iraq on Dec. 1st, 2005, and his obituary can be read at this link. Brent represents the values of the Hard Hat, and as such, Stillers.com will place a "B.A." in the Hard Hat article the rest of the season in tribute to this great American.)